Aeroplane



lMarch 4, i930.

A. w. DORGAN AEROPLANE Filed Feb. l1. 1928 3 SheetS-Sheeb March 4, 1930iA. w. DoRGAN AEROPLANE Filed Feb. l1. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill(g1/venivo HIbEJZZZDargan Swann?? March 4, 1930.

A. w. DQRGA-N AERQPLANE Filed Feb. ll. 1928 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar.4, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ALBERT W. DORGAN, OF BIRMINGHAM,

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF T0 GEORGE W. YEOMAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGANAEROPLANE AApplication filed February 11, 1928. Serial No. 253,538.

The present invention pertains to a novel aeroplane, and the principalobject is to provide an aircraft which is stabilized by an apparatusoperating on the principle of a gyroscope.

This apparatus, more specifically, is in the form of a disk mountedabove the fuselage and normally lying in a horizontal plane. This memberis caused to revolve rapidly either by gear connections to the aeroplanemotor, by an independent motor, or by small independent propellerscarried by the member. The disk, revolving at high velocity, maintainsthe machine ina-level plane regardless of sudden changes of pressure atdiametrically opposite points of the disk.

The invention further comprises the formation of openings through thedisk from one surface thereof to the other. When the disk 2o is in rapidrotation, these openings operate to form a vacuum on the upper surface,whereby there is provided a force which aids the lifting of the machine.

,Y The invention is fully disclosed by way of eirample inthe followingdescription and in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aplan view of the machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; s Fig. 3is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig- 3o ure 1;

v Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modification on a larger scale; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Reference to these views will now be made by the use of like characterswhich are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The machine comprises as usual a fuselage 1 having a motor 2 .mounted inits lower end for driving the usual propeller 3. An upright shaft 4 ismountedin the forward end of the fuselage near the cockpit 5 and carriesa circular disk 6. The shaft is loosely surrounded by a collar 7supported beneath the disk 6 by braces 8 extending to the rigid framestructure 9 enclosing the forward end of the fuselage. The disk issupported by resting onl the collar.

It will also be seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4 effect on the machine as awhole. For examthat the disk decreases in thickness from the center tothe edge thereof, bot-h surfaces being angular to a plane containing theedge proper. The disk is further formed with a series of substantiallyradial openings 10 which how- 55 ever have their outer ends convergingand curved as at 11 towards the edge of the disk. These openings extendthrough both the upper and lower surfaces of the disk as shown moreclearly in Figures 3 and 5. The upper trailing edge of each openingcarries a lip 12 which extends upwardly and in the vdirection ofrotation. The lower leading edge carries a somewhat similar but shorterlip 13 extending downwardly and somewhat towards the trailing edge.

In the construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the disk 6 is driven bypropellers 14 mounted in the openings 10 and occupying substantiallyradial planes. The propellers are carried on shafts 15 extending intobearing sleeves 16 supported at the rear or trailing walls of theopenings 10 and substantially perpendicular to planes passed through thepropellers 14. These propellers mayv be driven by separate motorsmounted in the disk or by gearing to the-aeroplane motor 2.

In the construction shown in Figure 4 the disk 6 is driven from themotor 2. In this case the motor shaft 17 and the upright shaftl 4 carryrespectively a bevel pinion 18 and a bevel gear 19 in mesh. The pinion18 may be engaged and disengaged with respect to the gear 19 by means ofa suitable clutch mechanism 20 within convenient reach of the 85 pilotsseat 21 in the cockpit 5.

In the operation of the device as thus far described, the rapid rotationof the disk6 while the machine is sailing has a gyroscopic ple, if asudden increase in air pressure is eX- erted upwardly on the disk at oneside of'a given diameter, the machine will not tilt, but the pressureincrease will act as if exerted over the entire area of the disk, andthe machine will rise in a substantially horizontal plane. The openings10, in cooperation with the lips 12, form a vacuum upon the disk whilethis member is rotating, and this vacuum obviously aids in raising themachine and maintaining it in the air.

The sub-structure of the aeroplane comprises a pair of forward legs 25and rear 5 sleeves 26 attached respectively to the for-v ward and rearlower corners of the frame 9. The legs 25 support ground wheels 27, andtubes 28 slidably mounted in the sleeves 26 carry similar rear wheels29. The wheels are A cushioned by springs 30' surrounding the members 25and 28 as shown more clearly in Figure 4. Intersecting-braces 31 and 32extend respectively from the forward wheels to the rear corners of theframe 9 and from the rear wheels to the forward corners of the frame andare pivoted thereto. Springs- 33 ydisposedwithin the tubes 26 act uponthe upper ends of the legs 28, and the latter are held in place bycables 34 extending therefrom 2o to a lever 35 within reach of the pilotin the cockpit. It will be obvious that this lever and cable mechanismconstitutes a means 4for regulating the' eective length of the rear legs28.

i The machine'is taken off the ground by first starting themotor, thenrotating the disk y 6, and finally shortening the legs 28 by means ofthe lever 34 and lowering the rear part of the fuselage. Thisinclination of thev fuselage places the machine in better condition lforleaving the ground when the motor 2 is accelerated to full speed. Inlanding, the

forward motion is reduced to permit -the plane to come close to theground. The mo- 35 tion of the disk is then accelerated, and the rearend o f the fuselage is lowered.

- The disk 6 is mounted to turn in that dilower surface thereof, and anupwardly and forwardly extending lip at the trailing upper edge of eachopening.

3. In an aeroplane, a fuselage, a diskrotatan upwardly and forwardlyextending lip at the trailing upper edge of each opening.

4. In an aeroplane, a fuselage, a disk rotatably mounted over saidfuselage, said disk being supported to' lie normally in a horizon-l talplane, means for rot-ating said disk, said disk having substantiallyradial openings from the upper to the lower surface thereof, propellersmounted in said openings, said propellers lying in planes substantiallyradial to said disk, forward and rear legs depending from said fuselage,wheels carried by said legs, said rear legs being adjustable in length.

5. Inan aeroplane, a fuselage, a disk rotatably mounted over saidfuselage, said disk being supported to lie normally in a horizontalplane, means for rotating said disk, a motor in said fuselage,lapropeller mounted at the front end of said fuselage and operativelyconnected to said motor, the center of said propeller being offsetlaterally from thevcenter of said disk with'respect to the longitudinalaxis of said fuselage.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ALBERT W. DORGAN.

rection in which its torque will be opposite to that of the mainpropeller 3. These torques 40 are accurately balanced by seating themotor 2 somewhat out of line with the axis of the machine as shown1 moreclearly in Figure 3 which illustrates the'motor as oset laterally fromthe upright shaft 4.

y 45 Although specific embodiments ofthe invention have been illustratedand described, it will be understood that various alterations in thedetails of construction may be 'made without departing from the scope asindicated y 50 by the appended claims.

vWhat I claimy is Y 1. In an aeroplane, a fuselage, a disk rotatablymounted over said fuselage, said disk being supported to lie normally ina horizontal 55 plane, means for rotating said disk, said disk havingsubstantially radial openings from the upper to the lower surfacethereof., and v propellers mounted in said openings, said propellerslying in. planes substantially ra- 60 dial to said disk.

A2. In anaeroplane, a fuselage, a disk .rotatably mounted over 'saidfuselage, said disk being supported vto lie normally in a horizontalplane, means for rotating said disk, said 65 disk having openings fromthe upper to the

